Automatic drain spout



Feb. 13, 1951 P. NEWBOLD 2,541,536

AUTOMATIC DRAIN SPOUT Filed July 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 13, 1951 P. L. NEWBOLD AUTOMATIC DRAIN SPOUT Filed July 11, 1946 FIG. 5

v 56 32 lin 34 \1 'i1i' 50 I "44 I0 I 47 5] 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC DRAIN SPOUT Park L. Newbold, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application July 11, 1946, Serial No. 682,878

2 Claims. I

This invention relates to a drain spout that carries the rain water away from the building while it' is raining and automatically returns to a position alongside the Wall upon cessation of 'the rain.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device of simple and inexpensive construction that will eliminate the necessity of having a drain spout extending across walks, driveways and other frequented places during the time it is not raining.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device that reduces the hazards of tripping over permanent drain pipes extending across walks, by replacing them with an automatic pipe that is in this position only when it is raining.

Another object of my invention is toprovide a device that requires little attention and is inexpensive to install.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following explanation, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departingv from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view of my device in normal position with the discharge pipes alongside the wall.

Figure 2 is a view of my device in discharging position and showing the return balance weight and secondary discharge pipe control valve.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the lower hinged bracket and showing in particular the turning track, pulleys, control valve levers and tank pivot support.

Figure 4 is a view of levers that operate the I valve regulating the flow of water from the secondary discharge pipe.

Figure 5 is a side view of the frame and tank and illustrates in particular the upper and lower hinged brackets and balance weight.

Figure 6 is a front view of the lower part of the tank, turning track and lower hinged bracket.

The views of the device show the discharge pipes as turning from left to the right, however, it is understood that a reversal of the turning mechanism will produce a turning movement opposite of that shown.

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of my invention includes a tank indicated generally at ID, a main discharge pipe I I, a secondary discharge pipe 12, a, main frame I3,

2 hinged U shaped brackets It, a turning track [5, a return weight it, a control valve il, valve control levers I8 and an inlet pipe i9.

The U shaped hinged members it are pivotally connected to supports 20 at 56. Said supports are attached to main frame l3 at 25. A pivot arm 22 is attached to the top rim of the tank ill and extends inward to the center of said tank and is pivotally connected to the upper U hinged member M at 23. A tank pivot support 24 is secured to the bottom of the tank It and is pivotally connected to the lower U hinged bracket at 25. A member 2% and tension spring 2'! connect the upper and lower U hinged brackets M, between which, the tank H3 is pivoted. ihe return weight I6 is pivotally connected to a lever arm 28 at 33. Lever arm 28 is pivotally connected to anchor member 30 at 29. A connecting member 3| is pivotally connected to lever arm 23 and lower hinged U bracket M at 32.

The connecting member 26 and tension spring 21 are pivotally connected to hinged U brackets at 34. A lid 35 is supported by an L-shaped member 36 and is held in place by wing nut 37.

Member 36 is secured to the inlet pipe l9 and serves as a support for the lid 35.

A member 38 connects with the valve ii at 5i and extends to the main control lever iii, a tension spring 39 is attached to member 38 and anchored to l2. An upright support it! is secured to l2 and an adjustable arm ii is attached to band 43 and held in place by set screw 42.

The angled base of the main frame member I3 is strengthened by a brace 44. A stop member 45 is attached to the outward end of the angled base.

A pair of pulleys 4 6 are attached to member 51 so as to revolve, member 4'! is attached to the tank base at 48. A track [5 bent to the form of an exaggerated semi-circular spiral is attached to the main frame l3 at 49 and at its lower part at 50. An extension member 5! is attached to the lower U hinged bracket for additional leverage. A pipe member 52 is provided for the flow of water from the tank E0 into the secondary discharge pipe l2, and a return stop member 53 is secured to the lower U bracket to arrest the movement of the secondary discharge pipe [2.

upon its returning to normal position. A member 54 is attached to the lower U hinged bracketv adjacent to stop member 53 and its function is tocontact trip valve control lever it upon the: return of the secondary discharge pipe ii to nor-- mal position. One end of a tension spring 55 is the other end is anchored to tank pivot support 24. The right control valve lever I8 is connected with member 38 at 51 and upon contact with stop member 45 a latching action is eiTected With the left trip member 18, thereby holding the valve I! open. These two control members I 8 are so constructed that their ends latch and unlatch at a predetermined position of the discharge pipe 12. Member 58 is anchored to member l2 and acts as a base for the valve control levers i8.

In use the device is attached'to the foundation or side of a building as shown in Figure 1 and this is considered normal position. As it com"- mences to rain, the Water enters the tank ll= through inlet pipe [9. As soon as the proper weight of water enters the tank, pressure is ap-- plied to the upper pulley 46 which is then.mak-- ing contact with the top portion of the spiral-like track [5. the track causing a turning movement of the tank! I0, discharge pipes lll2 and other parts of the mechanism. At the time this turning movement is taking place the U shaped hinged brackets I4 are moving downward and'the weight 16 moves upward. As. soon as the turning movement nears 90 degrees the right valve control lever. l8:- contacts stop member 45 and causes-valve I! to open, left trip control lever [8 moves into place against right lever It and remains in this position thereby holding valve I! open. We are assuming the height of the Water in the tank Ill-has now reached the main discharge pipe H. andis flowing from the tank and also a small. amount: from thebott'om of the tank ill through the outlet 52 into the secondary pipe I2 and discharged through the-valvet IT. This flow of water: will continue in this manner until the amount of water entering the tank is less than the amount being discharged through the secondary discharge pipe IZ. When this occurs the water will stop flowing from the main pipe I I and continue only through 42 untilthe Weight of water remaining in the tank is less than th pull being exerted by the weight it on the lower U bracket. Hi;

When this point of balance has been reached the weight 16 moves downward and through lever action forces lower pulley 48 against the under side of the track 55 and causes the tank and discharge assembly members to turn and move.

back to normal position. As the discharge-pipes The pulley then rolls downward on 4 near the degree return distance the control lever stop member 54 contacts the left trip control lever l8 and causes it to break contact with right lever l8 thereby permitting the water control valve I! to return to closed position.

The device now is assumed to be back to its normal position with the secondary pipe l2 resting against member 53 and left trip control lever l8 contacting 54 and maintaining light pull on spring 55.

Tension of spring 39 keeps valve ilclosed until opened by contact of right control lever l8 with member 45. The action of the device is automatic and is accomplished by applying the weight of water entering and discharging, to a combinationof members coordinated as a unit.

I.claim as my invention:

1. In a drain spout the combination of a main frame, apair of U shaped bracket members pivotally attached to same, a tank, a cover means for same, an inlet, main and secondary discharge pipes extending laterally from openings within said tank, means for pivotally suspending the tank perpendicularly between the U shaped brackets, a track bent to the form of an exaggerated semi-circular spiral and placed adjacent to the tank, roller means for connecting these two members, a'balance tank returning means, an outlet valve attached to the secondary discharge pipe and means for controlling same substantially as the device described.

2. In a drain spout the combination of. a main frame, an upper and a lower U shaped bracket pivotally attached thereto, a. tank pivotally suspended perpendicularly between said U shaped bracketsand'adapted to movevertically in. unison with-same, a semi-circular spiral track anchored to the frame. and roller connected. to the tank in a manner that up and down movement of the U shapedbrackets produces a revolving action of the'tank, an inlet to the said tank, a cover means, a main and a secondary discharge pipe extending laterally. from openings within the tank, an outlet valve attached to the secndary pipe, means v for controlling. same and a balance mechanism for reversing revolving movement of the tank substantially'as the. device described.

PARKL. NEWBOLD.

N 0 references: cited; 

